Processes for preparing triphenylene

Abstract

Processes are provided for producing triphenylene by combining at least dodecahydrotriphenylene, a dehydrogenation catalyst such as palladium on carbon, and an aliphatic solvent having a boiling point greater than 180° C. to form a reaction mixture, heating the reaction mixture to at least about 180° C. but lower than the boiling point of the aliphatic solvent, maintaining the temperature of the reaction mixture at 180° C. but lower than the boiling point of the aliphatic solvent, and passing a purge fluid comprising an inert fluid through the reaction mixture, for a period of time adequate for production of triphenylene.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process comprising:
 (a) combining at least dodecahydrotriphenylene, a dehydrogenation catalyst, and an aliphatic solvent having a boiling point greater than 180° C. to form a reaction mixture, 
 (b) heating the reaction mixture to at least about 180° C. but lower than the boiling point of the aliphatic solvent, 
 (c) maintaining the reaction mixture between at least about 180° C. and the boiling point of the aliphatic solvent, and passing a purge fluid comprising an inert fluid through the reaction mixture, for at least about 12 hours, 
 (d) adding a halogenated co-solvent to the reaction mixture; and 
 (e) producing triphenylene. 
 
     
     
       2. The process according to  claim 1  wherein the dehydrogenation catalyst comprises palladium on carbon or platinum. 
     
     
       3. The process according to  claim 1  wherein the aliphatic solvent comprises tetradecane or pentadecane. 
     
     
       4. The process according to  claim 1  wherein (d) is replaced with:
 (d) cooling the reaction mixture; 
 (e) combining at least the cooled reaction mixture and a halogenated co-solvent to form a filtration mixture; 
 (f) heating the filtration mixture to at least about 125° C.; 
 (g) filtering the filtration mixture to recover a filtrate; 
 (h) cooling the filtrate to ambient; and 
 (i) collecting triphenylene from the filtrate. 
 
     
     
       5. The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising passing a purge fluid through the reaction mixture during (b). 
     
     
       6. The process according to  claim 1  wherein the halogenated co-solvent comprises dichloroethane, chloroform, methylene chloride, or chlorobenzene. 
     
     
       7. A process comprising:
 (a) combining at least dodecahydrotriphenylene, palladium on carbon, and an aliphatic solvent comprising tetradecane or pentadecane and having a boiling point greater than 180° C. to form a reaction mixture, 
 (b) heating the reaction mixture to at least about 180° C. but lower than the boiling point of the aliphatic solvent, 
 (c) maintaining the reaction mixture between at least about 180° C. and the boiling point of the aliphatic solvent, and passing a purge fluid comprising an inert fluid through the reaction mixture, for at least about 12 hours, 
 (d) adding a halogenated co-solvent to the reaction mixture; and 
 (e) producing triphenylene.